Definition of Cryotherapy
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) is a therapeutic technique where the entire body is exposed to extremely cold air—typically between -110°C to -160°C (-166°F to -256°F)—for a short period, usually 1 to 3 minutes, inside a specially designed chamber. The purpose is to trigger physiological responses such as reduced inflammation, pain relief, faster muscle recovery, and a boost in overall wellbeing. WBC has been popular in sports medicine for years due to its help with exercise recovery, but is increasingly used as a wellness treatment.
Explore cryotherapy research in the following databases:
*The Cochrane database requires users to enter the search term manually. Enter “body cryotherapy” with quote marks.
Research Spotlight
The databases often return hundreds of medical studies for a single wellness approach. This section provides a sampling of studies – providing just a taste of the available research.
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- Whole-Body Cryotherapy can Reduce the Inflammatory Response in Humans
A March, 2025 meta-analysis based on 11 randomized controlled trials published in Nature looked at how WBC affects the inflammatory response in people. Because chronic or frequent inflammation may contribute to metabolic related diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases, reducing the inflammatory response is considered beneficial. The study found that WBC helps to reduce proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β) while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), effectively reducing inflammation and offering significant benefits for both athletes and obese individuals. Access this study on cryotherapy. - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Whole Body Cryotherapy on Mental Health Problems
A 2021 meta-analysis of 196 scientific studies on whole-body cryotherapy’s effects on mental health; of the 196 studies, only 10 met the criteria for the meta-analysis (including six randomized controlled trials), but the results show WBC to be an effective add-on treatment for mental health problems, particularly depression, though the researchers note that further research and studies with larger numbers of participants are needed. Access this study on cryotherapy. - Effects of Repeated Cryostimulation Exposures on Sleep and Wellness in Healthy Young Adults
A small study from late 2024 that examined healthy young men and women in their 20s who received WBC for five consecutive days to assess sleep quality and quantity as well as wellness and mood. Results showed repeated WBC exposure had a beneficial impact on mood and anxiety as well as subjective sleep quality, while it also increased slow wave sleep duration. Access this study on cryotherapy. - Whole-Body Cryotherapy Is an Effective Method of Reducing Abdominal Obesity in Menopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome
A small study examined the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on body composition in menopausal women. It involved 19 menopausal women with metabolic syndrome and 18 healthy-weight menopausal women, all undergoing 20 WBC sessions at -130°C for three minutes each day. After the treatments, both groups showed reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, arm fat, total body fat, and leg fat percentage. In the metabolic syndrome group, total fat, abdominal fat, and android (central) fat decreased even more significantly. Additionally, researchers noted an increase in plasma irisin—a hormone-like protein that boosts metabolism by helping convert white fat into calorie-burning brown fat—in both groups. Access this study on cryotherapy. - A Single Session of Whole-Body Cryotherapy Boosts Maximal Cycling Performance and Enhances Vagal Drive at Rest
A small study found that a single WBC session improved cycling performance and enhanced parasympathetic activity at rest. The study recorded ECGs of 28 healthy adults who underwent rest, all-out effort on a cycloergometer, five-minute recovery and again rest. After 3–5 days, participants underwent WBC (3 min exposure to − 150 °C air) and the whole procedure repeated. The data support the idea that WBC may be helpful both for boosting exercise performance and for speeding up the post-exercise recovery. Access this study on cryotherapy. - Whole-Body Cryotherapy Does Not Augment Adaptations to High-Intensity Interval Training
A small study from 2019 looked at whether three minutes of WBC after intense exercise helped the adaptive response to HIIT training. After four weeks, the researchers found that WBC had no effect on peak oxygen uptake or peak aerobic power as compared to a control group, so they concluded that regular post-exercise WBC does not seem to help improve aerobic fitness when it comes to HIIT training. Access this study on cryotherapy.
Studies-in-Progress/Clinical Trials Underway
A clinical trial is any research study that assigns people to health-related interventions to evaluate the outcomes. “Interventions” include drugs, surgical procedures, devices, behavioral treatments, preventive care, etc.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: explore trials underway in the U.S.
- World Health Organization: explore trials happening across the globe. When you reach WHO’s search page, please type in “body cryotherapy.”
Access all studies currently available for cryotherapy in these databases:
- Whole-Body Cryotherapy can Reduce the Inflammatory Response in Humans
- *The Cochrane database requires users to enter the search term manually. Enter “body cryotherapy” with quote marks.
